Gyratory crusher with capacity regulator

ABSTRACT

A gyratory crusher is described having an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame and defining an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head. A capacity regulator is provided having a cap, and a generally cylindrical member with a vertical central axis. The cylindrical member depends from the cap to provide a lower end coaxial with the cap. an annular shield is connected to the lower end of the depending member to project radially outward therefrom with an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the top of the crushing chamber. A regulator support means is carried by the crusher, that projects within the depending member and defines a regulator support surface for carrying the regulator with the annular shield coaxially over the crushing chamber. A vertically jacking mechanism is interposed between the cap of the regulator and the support surface within the depending member of the regulator, operative to raise and lower the annular shield relative to the concave and regulate the crushers capacity to receive and pass stone into the crushing chamber.

[ 1 May 28, 1974 1 GYRATORY CRUSHER WITH CAPACITY REGULATOR ABSTRACT [75] Inventors: Robert H. Kemnitz, Appleton;

Robert Pollak wauwatosa, both A gyratory crusher 18 described having an upright of Wis. shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a 1 1 Assignee? Allis-Chalmers Corpomfiml, crusher frame and defining an annular crushing cham- Milwaukee, Wis.

Nov. 16, 1972 ber between the concave and the head. A capacity regulator is provided having a cap, and a generally cy- 22 Pl d: 1 1e lindrical member with a vertical central axis. The cylindrical member depends from the cap to provide a Appl. No.: 307,052

lower end coaxial with the cap. an annular shield is 22 mw M32 M 7 2R0 0 W Z ""0 mm 4 "3 uu .1 m W h c nn "8 "us L h C Umh 1. .1 218 555 [11.

the top of the crushing chamber. A regulator support means is carried by the crusher, that projects within the depending member ,and defines a regulator sup- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS port surface for carrying the regulator with the annular shield coaxially over the crushing chamber. A ver- 241/202 tically jacking mechanism is interposed between the g g cap of the regulator and the support surface within the depending member of the regulator, operative to raise 241/202 241 [216 and lower the annular shield relative to the concave and regulate the crushers capacity to receive and pass stone into the crushing chamber.

2,296,280 9/1942 Gruender 2,296,281 9/1942 Gruender 2,656,120 10/1953 Roubal.... 3,131,876 5/1964 Zoerb..... 3,140,834 7/1964 Symons...

Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant ExaminerHoward N. Goldberg 9 Cl ms 4 Drawin Fi res Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur M. Streich a g GYRATORY CRUSHER WITH CAPACITY REGULATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to rock crushing machines having a generally conical head and a surrounding stationary concave that defines therebetween an annular crushing chamber and in particular to such a machine having a capacity and feed flow regulator.

2. Description of the Prior Art A crusher of the aforesaid type is shown in US. Pat. No. 369,117 of 1887. With the arrangement shown in this prior patent an inverted cone-shaped hopper is loaded with stone and a plurality of frames are pulled radially outward and up the incline of the hopper to let the stone fall through into a crushing chamber. When the frames are pulled outwardly to permit stone to fall into the crushing chamber the weight of the full height of the stone in the hopper pushes downwardly on the stone in the crushing chamber. Such a downward force can cause packing and overloading of the crushing chamber which can be a problem, particularly in crushers utilized for fine crushing.

US. Pat. No. 3,329,356 of 1967 discloses-a crusher with an annular ring welded on to a conical crushing head to accelerate the flow of material into a crushing chamber. The arrangement shown in this prior patent, however, is not operable to reduce flow into the crushing chamber and is not adjustable.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Among the objects achieved by the present invention is that flow of material into a crushing chamber is metered to keep a desired level of material in the crushing chamber, but without subjecting the material in the crushing chamber to the downward force of a load of material in a hopper above the chamber, to provide for adjusting the flow of material into the chamber to avoid feed material bridging when crushing relatively large pieces, and to avoid packing and overloading when crushing relatively small pieces.

A crusher, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, has an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame and defining an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head. A capacity regulator is provided having a cap, and a generally cylindrical member with a vertical central axis. The cylindrical member depends from the cap to provide a lower end of the depending member coaxial with the cap. An annular shield is connected to the lower end of the depending member to project radially outward therefrom with an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the top of the crushing chamber. A regulator support means is carried by the crusher, that projects within the depending member and defines a regulator support surface for carrying the regulator with the annular shield coaxially over the crushing chambers. A vertically jacking mechanism is interposed between the cap of the regulator and the support surface within the depending member of the regulator, operative to raise and lower the annular shield relative to the concave and regulate the crushers capacity to receive and pass stone into the crushing chamber.

Other features of the invention and how they have been attained will appear from the more detailed description of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevation, partly in section, of a gymtory crusher according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line II-II in FIG. I and viewing the structure in the direction indicated by arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, in perspective, of a structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation in section showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a gyratory crusher is shown comprising a framework 1 including a concave 2 and regulator support means 3. The support 3 has a rim 4 secured to the top of concave 2 and radial arms 5 that support a hub bearing housing 6 centrally over the rim 4 and concave 2. A gyratable shaft 7 is fulcrumed in hub bearing housing 6. A conical crushing head 8 is mounted on shaft 7. Concave 2 includes an annular bowl 9 arranged within concave 2, and the bowl 9 and crushing head 8 cooperate to define therebetween an annular crushing chamber 10. A hopper 11 is mounted on crusher frame 1 above concave 2. A spacer member 12 having a regulator support surface 13, is mounted on top of hub 6.

Shielding means 20 are arranged within hopper 11 and above the annular crushing chamber 10. The shielding means 20, includes a cylindrical member 21 with a vertical central axis X-Y, with a transverse spanning member, preferably a cap 22, connected to the upper end of the cylindrical member 21. An annular shield 23, having an outer circumferential edge 24, is connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member 21 and projects radially outward therefrom with the outer edge 24 having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the top of the annular crushing chamber 10, or in other words, the outer edge 24 has a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the top of bowl 9 within concave 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the shielding means 20 is shown to enlarge scale and in perspective. It is also shown that cap 22, cylindrical member 21 and annular shield 23, is an assembly made in two sections with each of the aforesaid components 21, 22 23, having an a portion and a b portion connected along edges 28, 29, that define a vertical plane Z--Z. The cylindrical member portions 21a, 21b, may each be connected to cap portion 22a, 22b and shield portions 23a, 23b as by weldments 35, 36. The a and b sections may be joined together by flanges a, 40b and bolts 41 (also shown in FIG. 1), and straps 42 and bolts 43. A plurality of holes are provided in cap sections 22a, 22b, for a purpose that will appear from the description to follow. Referring again to FIG. 1 vertical jacking means are shown between the support surface 13 and the shielding means 20, which comprise jack screws 51 each of which project through holes 50 (shown in FIG. 3) to bear upon surface 13. The jack screws 51 are threaded Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown in which vertical jacking means are.

provided which comprise a piston 60 within a fluid pressure cylinder 61. The piston 60 has a rod portion 62 that projects axially through one end of cylinder 61, and rod 62 is connected to a flange portion 63 perpendicular to rod 62. The piston 60 and cylinder 61 may be arranged with the flange portion 63 engaging a support surface 13a defined by the top of hub 6, and bolted thereto by bolts 64. When this embodiment is assembled, the shielding means 20 may be placed on top of cylinder 61 and bolts 65 may be utilized to attach cylin-' der 61 to the underside of cap 22 of the shielding means 20. Fluid pressure delivery tubes 66, 67 may be provided which pass through cap 22 and connect cylinder 61 above and below piston 60 to a source of fluid pressure (not shown).

In the operation of a crusher with a capacity regulator 20, according to the present invention, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, jack screws l may be turned in nuts 52 to adjust the spacing between cap 22 and support surface 13, and the spacing between edge 24 of annular shield 23 and the top of bowl 9. Material to be crushed may then be delivered to hopper 11 and hopper 11 filled to any height-The position of shield 23 relative to bowl 9 determines the size of the feed opening therebetween and meters the flow of material into crushing chamber 10. The column of feed material in hopper ll bears down upon the top of concave 2, the top of bowl 9 and the top of shield 23, but without bearing down upon the material within crushing chamber 10. Thus theadjustable position of'shield 23 provides for a metered and adjustable flow of material into crushing chamber 10, to avoid overfilling chamber 10, bridging of feed material between the bowl 9 and crushing head 8, and packing of material in chamber 10.

The operation of the crusher shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that described for FIG. 1, except that fluid pressure admitted to cylinder 61 is utilized to raise and lower cylinder 61 relative to piston 60, and as cylinder 61 is raised and lowered the annular shield 23 is raised and lowered. The fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder 60, 61 of FIG. 4, therefore, also adjusts the spacing between edge 24 of shield 23 and the top of bowl 9 to regulate the capacity of the crusher to' receive matter in crushing chamber to avoid overfilling chamber 10, bridging of feed material between bowl 9 and crushing head 8, and packing of material in chamber 10.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention it has been shown how the objects of the present invention have been attained in a preferred manner. However, modification and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of this invention. Thus,'the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims such as are or may hereafter be, appended hereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privelege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a gyratory crusher having an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame to define an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head, a capacity regulator comprising:

a. shielding means arranged above the annular crushing chamber and having an outer circumferential edge portion covering at least a portion of the annular crushing chamber, with the outer circumferential edge cooperating with the concave to define an annular inlet to the crushing chamber;

b. support means carried by the crusher and arranged to support the shielding means coaxially to the crushing chamber; and

0. vertical jacking means connected between the support means and the shielding means, operative to raise and lower the shielding means, and adjust flow-through capacity of the annular inlet between the circumferential edge portion of the shielding means and the crusher concave.

2. A gyratory crusher according to claim 1 in which the vertical jacking means comprises a jack screw.

3. A gyratory crusher according to claim 1 in which the vertical jacking means comprises a piston within a cylinder, with the piston being movable within the cylinder by hydraulic fluid pressure.

4. A crusher according to claim 1 in which the shielding means comprises a cylindrical member with a vertical central axis, a cap attached to end transversely spanning the upper end of the cylindrical member, and the outer circumferential edge being defined by an annular shield connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member and projecting radiallyoutward therefrom, with i the outer circumferential edge defined thereby having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the crushing chamber.

5. A crusher according to claim 4, in which the support means comprise a plurality of spider arms projecting radially inward from the concave and support on their inner ends a hub coaxial to the crushing chamber, the cylindrical member of the shielding means defines openings through which the arms project to support the hub within the cylindrical member, and vertical jacking means are connected between the hub of the supporting means and the cap of the shielding means.

6. A crusher according to claim 5 in which the shielding means is fabricated in sections connected along edges thereof, that define a vertical plane passing through the openings defined in the cylindrical member, to facilitate assembly thereof.

7. A capacity regulator for a gyratory crusher having an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame to define an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head, the capacity regulator comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical member which when in an operative upright position has around a lower end thereof an outer circumferential edge portion coaxial to an axis central of the cylindrical member and operative to cooperate with a crusher concave to define a material inlet opening;

b. a spaning member attached transverselyacross the cylindrical member; and

c. a jacking mechanism connected to the spanning member and having a portion adaptable for engagement with a portion of a crusher to support the regulator relative thereto, and operative to move from the lower end of the cylindrical member.

9. A capacity regulator according to claim 7 in which the jacking mechanism portion adaptable for engagement with a portion of a crusher for support thereof, is connected to a piston within a fluid pressure cylinder connected to the spanning member, and the piston is operative by fluid pressure to move within the fluid pressure cylinder coaxially of the cylindrical member to which the spanning member is attached. 

1. In a gyratory crusher having an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame to define an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head, a capacity regulator comprising: a. shielding means arranged above the annular crushing chamber and having an outer circumferential edge portion covering at least a portion of the annular crushing chamber, with the outer circumferential edge cooperating with the concave to define an annular inlet to The crushing chamber; b. support means carried by the crusher and arranged to support the shielding means coaxially to the crushing chamber; and c. vertical jacking means connected between the support means and the shielding means, operative to raise and lower the shielding means, and adjust flow-through capacity of the annular inlet between the circumferential edge portion of the shielding means and the crusher concave.
 2. A gyratory crusher according to claim 1 in which the vertical jacking means comprises a jack screw.
 3. A gyratory crusher according to claim 1 in which the vertical jacking means comprises a piston within a cylinder, with the piston being movable within the cylinder by hydraulic fluid pressure.
 4. A crusher according to claim 1 in which the shielding means comprises a cylindrical member with a vertical central axis, a cap attached to end transversely spanning the upper end of the cylindrical member, and the outer circumferential edge being defined by an annular shield connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member and projecting radially outward therefrom, with the outer circumferential edge defined thereby having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the crushing chamber.
 5. A crusher according to claim 4, in which the support means comprise a plurality of spider arms projecting radially inward from the concave and support on their inner ends a hub coaxial to the crushing chamber, the cylindrical member of the shielding means defines openings through which the arms project to support the hub within the cylindrical member, and vertical jacking means are connected between the hub of the supporting means and the cap of the shielding means.
 6. A crusher according to claim 5 in which the shielding means is fabricated in sections connected along edges thereof, that define a vertical plane passing through the openings defined in the cylindrical member, to facilitate assembly thereof.
 7. A capacity regulator for a gyratory crusher having an upright shaft supporting a generally conical crushing head within a surrounding stationary concave carried by a crusher frame to define an annular crushing chamber between the concave and the head, the capacity regulator comprising: a. a generally cylindrical member which when in an operative upright position has around a lower end thereof an outer circumferential edge portion coaxial to an axis central of the cylindrical member and operative to cooperate with a crusher concave to define a material inlet opening; b. a spaning member attached transversely across the cylindrical member; and c. a jacking mechanism connected to the spanning member and having a portion adaptable for engagement with a portion of a crusher to support the regulator relative thereto, and operative to move the spanning member and attached cylindrical member axially of the crusher engagement adaptable portion to adjust the axial position of the circumferential edge portion relative to the crusher engagement adaptable portion of the jacking mechanism.
 8. A capacity regulator according to claim 7 in which the outer circumferential edge arround the lower end of the cylindrical member is defined by an annular shield connected to and projecting radially outward from the lower end of the cylindrical member.
 9. A capacity regulator according to claim 7 in which the jacking mechanism portion adaptable for engagement with a portion of a crusher for support thereof, is connected to a piston within a fluid pressure cylinder connected to the spanning member, and the piston is operative by fluid pressure to move within the fluid pressure cylinder coaxially of the cylindrical member to which the spanning member is attached. 